adminThe Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU) has formally announced its formation amid ongoing legal claims following the dismissal of more than 30 employees in the UK and Canada. The union operates as a subsidiary of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) and says its membership has continued to grow despite the dismissals.
Image credit: IWGB Union
Rockstar Game Workers Union announces its formation
The RGWU said it had originally planned to make a public announcement after passing the 10% union membership threshold last year. That plan changed after Rockstar dismissed employees over what the company described as the distribution of confidential information in a public forum.
The forum was later identified as a Discord server managed by the IWGB. The union said its membership passed the 10% threshold again shortly after the dismissals and that workers from Rockstar sites around the UK have continued to join.
For employees following the dispute, the key distinction is that the union and the company have given different explanations for the dismissals. The union characterizes them as an attack on organizing efforts, while Rockstar says the action concerned alleged breaches of company policy.
Union and company give different accounts
The RGWU described the dismissals as union busting and said they triggered protests, international media coverage, and a legal dispute. Those statements represent the union’s position; the claims have not been presented here as a final legal finding.
Rockstar has said it acted against a small number of individuals found to be sharing and discussing confidential information in a public forum. The company said this violated its policies and was not connected to employees’ right to join a union or take part in union activities.
Take-Two Interactive declined to comment on the union’s formation. The company’s lack of comment should not be treated as confirmation of either side’s account.
Legal claims move through the UK employment tribunal
The IWGB filed formal legal claims on behalf of the affected employees earlier this year. In January 2026, representatives for both parties attended a preliminary UK employment tribunal hearing. A judge denied the dismissed employees’ request for interim relief at that hearing.
A preliminary hearing addresses procedural matters and does not, by itself, settle the underlying dispute. The union said the case was expected to have a final hearing later in 2026. Readers seeking the latest status should check for subsequent tribunal updates, as proceedings can change over time.
What the dispute means for workers
The case brings together two separate issues: the company’s stated concerns about confidential information and employees’ rights to organize. The tribunal process is where the legal claims can be examined; the competing public statements alone do not establish the outcome.
For workers facing a similar situation, it is useful to keep a record of relevant communications and seek advice from a union or qualified employment-law professional. The RGWU’s announcement marks a significant development in the dispute, but the Rockstar Game Workers Union’s legal claims remain subject to the tribunal process.
